James Spann: Hot afternoons, isolated showers to continue in Alabama through the weekend

RADAR CHECK: Again today we have a few isolated showers and storms across Alabama, mainly over the southern 2/3 of the state. Away from the showers temperatures are in the low to mid 90s, about 7-10 degrees above average for mid to late September. Isolated showers will end soon after sunset; tonight will be mostly fair with a low in the 60s.

The overall weather pattern across Alabama won’t change much through the weekend. Hot afternoons with highs in the low to mid 90s, but pleasant nights with morning lows mostly in the 60s. Like recent days, a handful of showers and storms will form during the afternoon and evening hours, but they will be very isolated, and the chance of any one spot seeing rain is 10-20%.

Global models continue to suggest we will have deeper moisture, and an increase in the number of scattered showers and storms by the middle of next week. Still not a good, widespread rain like the state needs, but odds of any given spot seeing rain will be higher by then as an upper low forms northwest of the state. Highs drop into the mid 80s over the latter half of the week … See the video briefing for maps, graphics, and more details.

TROPICS: This afternoon Tropical Storm Gabrielle is in the Atlantic about 755 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. Satellite images continue to show a disorganized system; winds are estimated at 50 mph. Gabrielle’s poor structure is due to ongoing westerly vertical wind shear and a significant amount of dry air entrainment that is infiltrating its circulation. The latest forecast track from NHC shows Gabrielle passing east of Bermuda Monday as a minimal hurricane; from there it turns east/northeast out into the open Atlantic, no threat to land.

We also note a tropical wave along the west coast of Africa that is producing disorganized thunderstorm activity this afternoon. Some gradual
development of this system is possible over the weekend through the middle of next week while it moves west-northwestward across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic. NHC gives this feature a 20% chance of development; most models keep it weak and disorganized.

No tropical storms or hurricanes are expected across the Gulf for at least the next 7-10 days.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: Auburn travels to Norman to take on Oklahoma Saturday (2:30 p.m. kickoff) … the sky will be partly sunny, and a passing shower or thunderstorm is possible during the game. Temperatures will be in the mid to upper 80s.

UAB will be in Knoxville to take on Tennessee Saturday (11:45 a.m. kickoff) … the sky will be mostly sunny with temperatures in the mid 80s.

Jacksonville State hosts Murray State Saturday evening (6 p.m. kickoff) … just a very small risk of a shower early in the game, otherwise mostly fair with temperatures falling from the mid 80s at kickoff, into the 70s during the second half.

South Alabama hosts Coastal Carolina Saturday evening (6 p.m. kickoff). The sky will be mostly clear with temperatures falling from the upper 80s at kickoff, into the 70s by the fourth quarter.

ON THIS DATE IN 1926: The great “Miami Hurricane” produced winds of 138 mph that drove ocean waters into the Biscayne Bay drowning 135 persons. The eye of the hurricane passed over Miami, at which time the barometric pressure reached 27.61 inches. Tides up to twelve feet high accompanied the storm, which claimed a total of 372 lives.

ON THIS DATE IN 2017: Hurricane Maria became a Category 5 storm as it approached Puerto Rico.

For more weather news and information from James Spann and his team, visit the Alabama Weather Network.